Burt Wheeler

Long time Columbus businessman, William Burton “Burt” Wheeler died peacefully in his sleep Saturday, August 20, 2016 at the age of 89. He was born in the Columbus area July 21, 1927 to Dallas and Virgie Wheeler.

He told many stories of his years growing up during the Great Depression. Some included him chopping and loading wood for people so he could go to the movies. Other stories included him wandering down to an awful murder investigation site near his home, someone offering he and his mother a ride into town only to then be hit by a train, and the brakes of his car malfunctioned and he, inside the car, rolled down a hill backwards missing every tree.

He began his roofing career working alongside his Dad at the age of 12 or 13. By the age of 16 he was roofing regularly aside from school earning enough money to one day cash his teacher’s paycheck when she couldn’t make it to the bank. Also, after school each day, he and his Dad dug a 30 ft. deep well using a bucket, rope and shovels. Together they found roofing jobs at the local Air Force base and other locations. Once he reached adulthood, he opened and operated his own commercial roofing company, Wheeler Roofing, on Military Road in Columbus . While working he attended Mississippi State University. He continued managing his roofing company along side his family well into his later years and finally retired at about 78 years of age.

In addition to roofing, Burt raced go-carts during his youth. He loved cars, boats and deep sea fishing. He had a great sense of humor and knew no stranger. He loved his friends and family. Burt was drafted into the United States Army just after WWII. He received his training at Ft. Bliss , Texas and then moved to Fort Lewis , Washington . While stationed at Ft. Lewis he and his troops were filmed and presented in the movies “To Hell and Back” and “Take the High Road.” Richard Widmark literally ran into him on one occasion. During his army days, Burt was a Mess Hall Sergeant and a sharp shooter.

Burt married Dorothy Anne Fox November 19, 1949. They had two children, Michael Wheeler (also a commercial roofer now residing in Raleigh , North Carolina ) and Debra Wheeler Jones (now residing in Hoover , Alabama ) and two grandchildren, Hugh Wheeler and Mitchell Jones.

Burt later married Mavis Sanders October 5, 1973. Mavis had a daughter, Sheila Walters Dillon (residing in Columbus ).

Burt was a faithful member of the Church of Christ and attended the East Columbus congregation.

Burt will be laid to rest in Friendship Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 27 with Joe Shane officiating. He is preceded in death by his father, Dallas Burton Wheeler, Sr., his mother Virgie Lorraine Savage Wheeler, his brothers, James Cecil Wheeler and D.B. Wheeler, Jr., and his sister Mary Opal Brown.